March 9, 2017

CropWatch March 9, 2017

Farm Management

With a March 15 crop insurance deadline quickly approaching for many growers, university ag economists discuss points to consider and how to interpret this year’s crop insurance prices and volatility factors.

Many factors have been suggested as sources of increased volatility in agricultural commodity prices in recent years.This study finds that corn–ethanol links exist, but the effects are small and the impact is low.

With new changes in tax laws and likely more on the way, if you have tangible property in several districts, consider this option for taking more than one personal property tax exemption. With a little more paperwork, you can keep more of your income on the farm or ranch.

Cover Crops

Figure 1. Rye cover crop planted in small sections of field for erosion control. Center photo shows a section of ground where cover crop did not establish with normally developing plants. Damaged corn plants were primarily restricted to areas where cover crop was present.

Wheat stem maggots were an issue for some eastern and southern Nebraska farmers planting corn directly into a growing cover crop, leading to questions about how to best manage this scenario in 2018. Learn why entomologists don't recommend adding an insecticide to the herbicide when terminating the cover crop.

A March 14 webinar will explore the problem of wheat stem maggot damaging corn planted directly into rye or wheat cover crops.

A noon-hour webinar on March 14 will explore the issue of wheat stem maggot damage in corn planted directly into wheat or rye cover crops in 2017. Learn more about what happened and how to plan for 2018.

Figure 1. Grazing cover crops planted after corn harvest can be a win-win situation for both crop and livestock producers. An April 4 Nebraska Extension field day will explore some of the challenges and opportunities and showcase recent university research on implementing the system in eastern Nebraska.

A Nebraska Extension conference and field day, “Capturing Value in Cropping Systems using Cattle,” will offer a unique learning and networking opportunity for cattle and crop producers in eastern Nebraska.

IANR & Nebraska Extension

What are the local impacts of global changes and what do they mean for Nebraska? These are two of the questions that will be addressed during the final Heuermann Lecture of the 2017-18 season March 13 in Lincoln.

Figure 1. Aaron Yoder uses an ATV simulator at the National FFA Convention to provide safety training. Yoder and other instructors will use the simulator in Nebraska this summer when teaching Youth Tractor Safety and Hazardous Occupations Courses.

This week's Market Journal explores the need for a written market plan for both new and old crop corn and soybeans, the drought in Argentina, and what attendees learned at the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference.

Weather

Climatologist Al Dutcher looks at snowpack and temperature and precipitation patterns with an eye toward the weather outlook for planting season and a glimpse toward the extended summer outlook. While patterns are still uncertain, it appears a drier trend may be developing for the summer.

Pasture Management

Figure 1. Two options for determining pasture rental rates are per acre and per cow-calf.

What are some of the reasons why you would choose either a per-acre or a per cow-calf pair to determine pasture rental rate? Extension Forage Specialist Bruce Anderson discusses several benefits of each method.